The red carpet at the 2025 Grammy Awards created as much a buzz as the awards themselves. When Australian model Bianca Censori arrived at the ceremony with her husband Kanye West, she wore an oversized black fur coat paired with clear heels, but soon dropped it for a photo opportunity to reveal her utterly see-through dress, which was in stark contrast to West dressed head to toe in black.
Reports reveal that both West and Censori enjoy attention and thrive on the buzz, whether positive or negative. However, Censori has been known for her revealing outfits in the past. From wearing sheer stockings and clutching a purple throw pillow to her chest in lieu of a top to a skimpy metal mesh bikini and hugging onto a large fluffy cat soft toy, the model has mastered the art of dressing “naked”.
Over the years, nudity in some form or the other has existed across various cultures and societies throughout history. ‘Naked dressing’ has been celebrated across the world for many reasons. One important reason being, it makes a bold fashion statement. Another is that it is a powerful symbol of feminist victory where women have power over their appearance and bodies. However, such acts do get flak from critics and commentators as well.
On the other hand, nude protests have served as a powerful means for women to reclaim autonomy and challenge oppression. For instance, in 1992, Kenyan mothers of political prisoners staged a hunger strike and stripped naked in Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, demanding the immediate release of their sons.
But this isn’t the first time that nudity in fashion has been interpreted as a statement of confidence and empowerment and set the internet ablaze. Controversies around this dressing trend have been more than one in the past when designers and celebrities have donned such shimmering dresses. From celebrities like Elle Fanning to Kim Kardashian, Doja Cat to Charlize Theron, this trend has raised many eyebrows. Some of the examples include when Marilyn Monroe performed a rendition of Happy Birthday at President John F Kennedy’s 1962 birthday celebration wearing a flesh-coloured gown designed by Jean Louis with over 2,500 rhinestones.
Austrian-born American fashion designer Rudi Gernreich created the revealing monokini in 1964, while Yves Saint Laurent designed his first sheer look in 1966. After this many among — American singer actor Barbra Streisand accepted her Oscar as Best Actress for Funny Girl in 1969 wearing a sheer, sequinned pant suit designed by Arnold Scaasi, the gala-dress designer to first ladies, socialites and celebrities.
Actress, singer, and style icon Jane Birkin wore a sheer little black dress for the rom-com film titled Slogan premiere while Bob Mackie, known as the “naked dress originator,” dressed pop music icon Cher in a beaded and feathered naked dress for the 1974 Met Gala. Singer Rihanna in 2014 redefined the style at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) ceremony with her crystal gown created by Adam Selm. The crystal gown was made with 230,000 Swarovski crystals.
Over the years, designers like Dion Lee, Jason Wu, Michael Kors, Brandon Maxwell, Chanel, Balenciaga and other fashion houses have created some outstanding sheer creations. The trend has also seen actors like Florence Pugh, Bella Hadid, Madison Beer and Emma Corin walk the red carpets wearing their own interpretation. For the Met Gala in 2015, Beyoncé wore a sheer gown by Givenchy covered in crystal embellishments.
Kim Kardashian wore the actual Marylin Monroe dress from JFK’s 1962 birthday celebration for the 2022 Met Gala. The dress was valued at over $10 million that year and features 6,000 hand-sewn crystals.
Bella Hadid wore a body-con midi dress, made of see-through fabric at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Her dress was from Saint Laurent’s fall 2024 runway show. Bella Hadid wore a body-con midi dress, made of see-through fabric at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Her dress was from Saint Laurent’s fall 2024 runway show. Miley Cyrus opted for a Maison Margiela dress for the 2024 Grammys. She wore a safety pin dress with gold velvet Tabi split-toe heels.
